Central Oklahoma builders readying for Parade of Homes

Oklahoma City homebuilders are working to beat the rush — to the annual Parade of Homes.

It's three weeks away, Oct. 19-27, which means finishing touches are about all that's left for the 116 new houses on the parade, the 68th new-home show organized by the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association. The homes will be open free to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. all nine days.

Chad Randall, general manager of Timbercraft Homes, shows one of the company's homes at 17713 Griffin Cove Court, in Griffin Park addition near NW 178 and Western Avenue. The home will be featured in next month's Parade of Homes. Timbercraft owner Jack Evans is chairman of the parade. Jim Beckel - THE OKLAHOMAN

In addition to individual homes across the metro area, seven additions will be spotlighted: The Hill, in downtown Oklahoma City; Golden Gate at Twin Bridges, in Edmond; Birnam Woods in Edmond; and Cobblestone, Griffin Park, Savannah Estates and Pleasant Grove in the northwest Oklahoma City area.

In Yukon, the Oklahoma Home Builders Foundation will have its annual “House of Hope” open. Built by Carolyn Schluter of Raymond Homes, the home is at 3504 Sagebrush in the Raywood Manor addition.

The builder and foundation will present proceeds from the home to the Cavett Foundation, which will provide Christmas for children at Children's Hospital. Since 2000, the foundation has donated more than $600,000 to children's charities.

With the local economy still humming, the parade is what's on builders' minds right now, said Robert Crout, president of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association.

“They go all out to be accommodating and show off all the new technology and products. We're really looking forward to it,” said Crout, a Mustang developer.

Builders here are not flinching even as housing slows a bit nationally.

“I haven't seen any (concern),” he said. “I certainly watch what's going on in the national economy. Builder confidence is down a little bit (nationally) because of rising interest rates. But locally, the employment market is so strong and hiring is strong. People are working. I haven't really seen yet that we're seeing any slowdown.”